In this MOOC, we will learn the basic cyber security concepts, how to identify vulnerabilities/threat in a network system. We will apply CIA basic security services in the triage of recent cyberattack incidents, such as OPM data breach. We will learn the risk management framework for analyzing the risks in a network system, and apply the basic security design principles to protect the data and secure computer systems. We will examine the trustworthiness of programs and data installed in our systems and show the proper way to verify their integrity and authenticity. We will apply principle of least privileges for controlling the shared access given to different groups of users and system processes. On Amazon Cloud instances, we will use GnuPG software to generate public/private key pair for signing/verifying documents and open source software, and for encrypting documents. We will learn how to publish software, the related signature and release key on web server and publish public key to PGP key server for others to retrieve. We will learn Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Linux utility to serve as a CA for an organization, learn how to sign certificate request for clients or servers in secure email and web applications.

From the lesson

Cybersecurity Concepts and Security Principles

In this module, we will introduce the basic cyber security concepts, enable you to identity root causes of vulnerabilities in a network system and distinguish them from the threats from both inside and outside. We will analyze the enabling factors of recent cyber attack incidences and discuss the basic security services for their defense and triage. We will introduce the risk management framework for analyzing the risks in a network system, and apply the basic security design principles to protect the data and secure the computer systems. Trust is critical and in the center of any secure systems. We will examine the source and authenticity of the programs and data installed in systems we used daily and show the proper way to check their integrity, and verify their authenticity.